asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give for the year 1966 such particulars as have already been returned to him in relation to motor insurance in the form of a reply of the 22nd February, 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Insurance.
43.
It is not the practice to supply information from the annual returns of the insurance companies until copies of the returns have been laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and sent to the Registrar of Companies. It has not yet been possible to do this in respect of the returns for the year 1966.
I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to supply the information requested.
Can the Minister say approximately what percentage of returns he has received?
By now, I have received them all, I think. As the Deputy probably knows, the companies have nine months in which to furnish the returns. They had up to the end of September. It takes us some months to verify that they are in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Acts and then prepare a report and have it printed. I anticipate it will be about three months before this process is completed.
In anticipation of the delay in printing, could the Minister not furnish the return in neostyled form and lay it before the Dáil because these statistics are urgently required by a great many people?
I appreciate that and I shall give that aspect consideration.
Would the Minister let me know if he is unable to do so?
I will.